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Ilhan Omar: Putting Illegal Immigrants First, Again

On Tuesday, August 27, 2019, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is hosting an “Immigration Symposium.” The address of the two locations where the events will be held is unavailable except to registered guests; the EventBrite registration only lists “South Minneapolis” and “North Minneapolis.”

Why the secret locations?

Symposium topics include:

Panel: Deportation Defense. 1:00pm-2:30pm

This panel is geared toward immigrants, organizers, and concerned community members. Panelists will give an overview of the detention/deportation process, provide a Know-Your-Rights training, and discuss successful strategies for creating a community-driven movement to support detained individuals.

Panel: The Business of Detention. 2:45pm-4:14pm

This panel is geared toward local elected officials, leaders in the non-profit and for-profit sectors, immigrants, organizers, and community members. Panelists will present on the tech companies that provide the backbone to ICE infrastructure as well as how immigrants can protect their private data.

Workshop: Imagining a World Without ICE. 4:30pm-5:30pm

A facilitator will give a brief overview of the responsibilities of ICE designated in the Immigration and Nationality Act, followed by group discussions to imagine alternative structures the Congresswoman should propose to replace ICE.

The evening forum will discuss current practices for detention and deportation, and how longtime residents and even US citizens are being swept into the carceral system. In the context of the Southern Border, we will discuss how policy from the Department of Homeland Security has exacerbated the crisis and led to grave human rights violations for thousands of people seeking legal asylum. Tabling by immigration organizations begins at 6:30pm and doors open at 6:45pm.

It’s always fantastic when a sitting US Representative sponsors an event that teaches people to ignore US laws and claims that our brave ICE and Border Patrol agents are committing “grave human rights violations”, isn’t it?